By Liam PlumbMixed-use buildings present a unique challenge when it comes to fire safety. With multiple occupants and businesses residing in the same building, adhering to fire safety regulations can become more complicated. And with varying compartmentation measures and shared escape routes, ensuring a proper fire risk assessment is undertaken in not just best practice, it’s essential.
Why do Mixed-Use Buildings Need Fire Risk Assessments?
Mixed-use buildings are becoming increasingly more common in large towns and cities, where space is used efficiently to combine residential apartments, office suites and retail units within the same structure.
While this type of development brings convenience and practicality, it also introduces more complex fire safety considerations. A thorough, well-maintained fire risk assessment is essential to ensure that everyone within the building is adequately protected and that the property remains compliant with current fire safety legislation.
Within the Fire Safety Order 2005, it is referenced that if any part of a building is non-domestic, or has shared/common areas used by more than one household, then a fire risk assessment is legally required for those areas.
Therefore, in a mixed-use building, the law applies to:
- The retail unit (non-domestic – must have a fire risk assessment)
- The office space (non-domestic – must have a fire risk assessment)
- The shared areas of the residential area (stairwells, corridors, lobbies – must have a fire risk assessment)
Because mixed-use premises often share communal areas such as stairwells, entrances and corridors, a fire incident in one part of the building can quickly affect the safety of occupants in another.
A proper fire risk assessment ensures that suitable detection systems, clear evacuation routes and effective compartmentation are in place, allowing time for safe evacuation and preventing fire and smoke from spreading unchecked.
Why Mixed-Use Buildings Demand a Different Approach
The greatest challenge in mixed-use buildings lies in balancing the needs of the different occupancy types. An office environment may require clear communication protocols and designated fire marshals. A retail unit may need safe stock storage and well-maintained electrical equipment. Residential tenants may have differing awareness levels of fire safety procedures.
Because of this, a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. Without a coordinated and structured assessment, important safety considerations can be overlooked.
A mixed-use fire risk assessment must consider:
- Compartmentation: Ensuring fire cannot easily travel between commercial and domestic areas.
- Escape routes: Clear, well-lit and suitable for all building users, including those who may be unfamiliar with the layout, such as visitors or shoppers.
- Detection and alarm systems: These must be appropriate for each section of the building, yet coordinated to trigger a timely response.
- Evacuation strategy: For simultaneous evacuation, phased evacuation or ‘stay put’ guidance, depending on the building’s structure and layout.
A competent, third-party qualified assessor is strongly recommended for mixed-use buildings, as experience and technical understanding are crucial to getting these points right.
How T2 Fire Can Help
At T2 Fire Risk Assessors, we ensure your fire risk assessment is up-to-date to keep all occupants safe. Our comprehensive assessment will give you clarity, confidence and a clear plan of action. If you’d like support in reviewing your current fire safety arrangements or arranging a comprehensive fire risk assessment, our team is here to help.
Our experts cover Kent, Essex and London, so get in touch today to discuss your building and we’ll guide you through the next steps.